The State of Texas Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Tylenol Producers Over Autism Spectrum Claims
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the producers of acetaminophen, asserting the companies concealed safety concerns that the medication posed to pediatric brain development.
This legal action comes four weeks after President Donald Trump publicized an unproven link between using acetaminophen - referred to as acetaminophen - during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder in young ones.
The attorney general is suing the pharmaceutical giant, which previously sold the medication, the only pain reliever recommended for women during pregnancy, and Kenvue, which currently produces it.
In a statement, he said they "deceived the public by making money from pain and pushing pills ignoring the risks."
Kenvue says there is insufficient reliable data connecting acetaminophen to autism.
"These companies misled for generations, knowingly endangering numerous people to increase profits," Paxton, from the Republican party, declared.
Kenvue commented that it was "very worried by the spread of false claims on the security of paracetamol and the possible consequences that could have on the health of US mothers and children."
On its online platform, the company also mentioned it had "consistently assessed the pertinent research and there is lacking reliable evidence that indicates a established connection between using acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder."
Organizations speaking for doctors and healthcare providers concur.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said paracetamol - the main ingredient in Tylenol - is a restricted selection for pregnant women to manage discomfort and fever, which can create serious health risks if not addressed.
"In multiple decades of investigation on the utilization of acetaminophen in pregnancy, not a single reputable study has successfully concluded that the use of paracetamol in any period of pregnancy causes neurological conditions in offspring," the group commented.
The lawsuit mentions current declarations from the previous government in asserting the medication is potentially dangerous.
Recently, the former president caused concern from medical authorities when he told pregnant women to "struggle intensely" not to use Tylenol when sick.
The US Food and Drug Administration then issued a notice that doctors should think about restricting the usage of acetaminophen, while also declaring that "a proven link" between the medication and autism spectrum disorder in children has remains unverified.
Health Secretary RFK Jr, who oversees the FDA, had pledged in April to undertake "extensive scientific investigation" that would establish the cause of autism spectrum disorder in a short period.
But specialists warned that finding a sole reason of autism - thought by researchers to be the consequence of a intricate combination of inherited and surrounding conditions - would not be simple.
Autism is a form of lifelong neurodivergence and impairment that influences how individuals perceive and engage with the world, and is diagnosed using doctors' observations.
In his lawsuit, the attorney general - aligned with the former president who is running for federal office - asserts Kenvue and J&J "willfully ignored and sought to suppress the science" around acetaminophen and autism.
The case aims to force the companies "destroy any marketing or advertising" that asserts acetaminophen is safe for pregnant women.
This legal action echoes the concerns of a group of parents of minors with autism and ADHD who filed suit against the producers of acetaminophen in recently.
Judicial authorities dismissed the legal action, declaring studies from the parents' expert witnesses was inconclusive.